Not Just a Practice, Here's Why Oatmeal Is Doctors' Favorite Breakfast

JAKARTA - Breakfast is often considered trivial, even though what you eat in the morning can determine how your body and mind work throughout the day.

The right choice can keep you energized, focused, and full for longer. Conversely, a less nutritious breakfast can cause the body to be tired, have a headache, and even be hungry before noon.

Interestingly, doctors who have busy schedules tend to rely on a simple but consistent breakfast menu. From the various choices available, one menu emerges as the main favorite among intestinal, cancer, and heart health experts, namely oatmeal.

When 17 medical personnel from various specialties were interviewed by TODAY.com, most of them admitted to eating oatmeal as their regular breakfast menu. However, not just any oatmeal is chosen.

They recommend steel-cut oats or coarse-cut oats that are known to be rich in fiber, especially soluble fiber beta-glucan.

"Steel-cut oats are high in fiber, including soluble fiber beta-glucan," said Dr. Wendy Ho, gastroenterologist and clinical professor of health sciences at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine, quoted from the TODAY website.

"This type of fiber helps maintain digestive regularity and prevent constipation," he added.

However, other types of oats such as rolled oats can still be an alternative because they are more practical to prepare, although their fiber content is slightly lower.

What makes oatmeal even more interesting is its flexibility. Doctors usually add various healthy toppings to increase nutritional value as well as taste.

Some of the most commonly used toppings include chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, nuts, and fresh or dried berries. This combination provides fiber, protein, healthy fats, as well as vitamins and minerals that the body needs.

"I try to get a lot of good fiber, as well as healthy fats from whole grains, and also phytonutrients from dried fruit," said Dr. Jennifer McQuade, a professor and physician-researcher in melanoma oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Oatmeal is also easy to adjust to each person's preferences. You can use cow's milk or plant alternatives such as almond milk or oat milk.

Dr. Susan Cheng, professor of cardiology at the Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai, chooses to use non-dairy milk to reduce saturated fat intake. He also shared his habits.

"I prepare overnight oats with chia seeds, frozen or dried fruit, nuts, and grains," he said.

In addition, the variety of toppings can be changed according to the season so as not to be boring. For example, apples or pears during the rainy season. In addition, peaches or berries when the weather is hot

For those who don't like oatmeal, there are several other healthy breakfast options that are also recommended by doctors:

- Plain yogurt with fresh fruit, plus seeds or nuts for texture and nutrition

- Whole wheat bread with avocado or peanut butter, as well as additional protein such as egg whites or salmon

- Smoothies from a mixture of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, with the addition of Greek yogurt or tofu

All of these options have one thing in common: a combination of fiber, protein, and healthy fats. These nutrients help keep you feeling full longer without causing a spike in blood sugar.

By choosing the right breakfast menu such as oatmeal with various toppings, you not only start the day with enough energy, but also support long-term health.